Check book clip



March 6, 1952 s. T. SHI-:ARS 3,023,474

CHECK BooK CLIP Filed sept. 25. 195s Inv/e nio? Sinai/ I. Shears, y MfgM/ United States Patent O Filed Sept. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 763,232 1Claim. (Cl. 24-259) This invention relates generally to the art offastening a group of thin rectangular pieces together and morespecilically to fastening a group of checks together.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a checkbook clipwhich has at surfaces bearing on top and bottom of the group of checks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a checkbook clip whereinthe tearing portion conforms to the perforations on the checks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a checkbook clip havinga ribbed base for strength and -to cooperate with the tearing portion inholding the checks.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a checkbook cliphaving cutouts in the base for greater range in accommodating a numberof checks.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the applicantsclip;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the clip shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional View of the clip taken on line 3 3 of FIG.2; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional View of the clip applied to a group ofchecks and attached to a cover, the cover being broken oi.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a preferred embodimentof the applicants improved checkbook clip comprising a base or legportion 10, a connecting portion 12, and upper leg portion 14 in spacedangular relationship with Isaid base portion 10. Both the base 1) andleg 14 are integral with said connecting portion 12 to form asubstantially arched shaped clip. Said connecting portion 12 is insubstantially right angular relationship with the base 1l). The legportion 14 is rectangular in form and comprises a leading edge 16 andtwo side edges 18. The leading edge 16 is bent from the angularrelationship with base to a substantially parallel spaced relationshipwith the base 10 as` best illustrated in FIG. 3, forming a contactportion 11. The side edges 18 of the leg 14 are bent slightly away fromthe direction of the base 10 to form leads for engaging the checkbook20. The base 10 is rectangular in form` and its formed edge 22 extendsbeyond the leading edge 16 of the leg 14 as best shown in FIG. 3. Thebase 10 has two sides 24, a trailing edge 26 and the formed edge 22. Anembossed rib 28 is Iformed on the margin of the base 10 running alongthe forward edge 22, the sides 24 and a portion of the trailing edge 26of the base 10 as shown in FIG. 1. The rib 28 protrudes toward the planeof the leg 14 and extends to the points where the connecting portion 12is integral with base 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The sides 24 of thebase 10 extend beyond the side edges 18 of the leg 14. To engage a groupof cheeks with applicants clip, the checks are passed over a side 24 ofthe base 10 and under a side 18 of the leg 14. The length of 3,023,474Patented Mar. 6, 1962 ICC the leading edge 16 is normally made equal tothe width of the checks 20 although this is not absolutely necessary.The checks 20 will now be held securely by the pressures which areexerted at approximately right angles to the checks 20. These pressuresare exerted iirst by the embossed rib 28, secondly by the leading edge16 in an opposite direction and thirdly, by that portion of the embossedrib 28 which lies parallel to the trailing edge 26 of the base 10. The`leading edge 16 of the leg 14 contacts the check 20 not on a thin linebut on a substantially broad surface.

In order to increase the number of checks which the clip will hold,apertures 32 may be formed on the margin where the trailing edge 26 ofthe base 10 contacts the connecting portion 12. Theoretically, thelarger the area of the aperture 32, the greater the number of checks theclip will hold eiciently. The form of the apertures 32 may be of anygeometric types, the applicant has used the type shown in FIG. 2 of thedrawing effective- 1y. There are many dilerent methods of attaching theclip to a checkbook cover 34. Applicant has used in the preferredembodiment here shown, a rivet 36 through two apertures 38 formed in thebase 10 in the areas not covered by the leg 14. The size of theapertures 38 can be increased to accommodate a heat sealing fastener ifrequired.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, reference is made to the following claim which best denes thescope of my invention.

I claim:

A clip for check books and the like formed from a single piece of metalhaving a base portion, and an upper superposed spring leg having sideedges and a connecting portion securing said base and leg together alongadjacent edges, said base having a continuous rib extending toward theplane of said leg along a lirst edge opposite the connecting portion andalong said side edges, and said rib having ends directed inwardly towardeach other along an edge of said base opposite said irst edge to supporta book of checks and the like in spaced relation to said base portion,and said spring leg being of less width than the distance between theribs along said side edges of said base, and being normally angledtoward the base from the connecting portion, and having a leading edgenormally spaced therefrom and terminating near the rib on said base atsaid first edge opposite the connecting portion, and -a contact portionadjacent the said leading edge of said leg and located close to said riband adapted to press said book of checks toward said base portionadjacent the said rib to `form a bend in the check book and help holdsaid check book in place, one of said side edges being bent away fromsaid base portion.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,249,615 Gillette Dec. 11, 1917 1,417,325 Hopp May 23, 1922 1,845,268Harvey Feb. 16, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 540,085 France 1922

